Resources > Glossary > T

T

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S _ U V W X Y Z 0-9
 

Tab Tablature Tacet Tail block Tap Tapped harmonic Tapping Tempo Tetrachords Thru-neck Time signature Timing Toggle switch Tone Tone control Top Top plate Touched harmonic Travis picking Treble clef Tremolo Tremolo bar Tremolo picking Tremolo system Triad Trill Truss rod Truss rod cover Tube Tube amp Tune Tuners Tuner pegs Two-hand tapping

 
Tab

Short for tablature

Full article on Reading Internet Tabs

 
Tablature

A system of written music for stringed instruments. Found under the musical stave. It consists of six horizontal lines that represent the strings of a guitar. Numbers are written on the lines to indicate which fret to hold.

Full article on Reading Internet Tabs

 
Tacet The finishing point of a specified instrument in a song/musical piece
 
Tail block

Another term for end block

 
Tap

A hammer-on that is done without plucking the string. Can be done with the picking hand or the fretting hand (normally the picking hand).

Full article on Hammer-ons & Pull-offs

 
Tapped harmonic

Sounded by holding a fret, without plucking, then tapping a specified fret (specified above/below the tab lines) with the picking hand.

Full article on Tapped Harmonics

 
Tapping Hammer-ons that are done without plucking the strings. Can be done with the picking hand or the fretting hand (normally the picking hand).
 
Tempo The duration of time between each beat. Determines the speed of music.
 
Tetrachords A combination of four notes separated by one halfstep and two whole steps. Tetrachords are not actually played as chords. Various tetrachords can be put together to assemble scales.
 
Thru-neck

Short for neck through body

 
Time signature

A fraction that dictates how many beats are in each bar (top number) and the note duration of each beat (denominator). For example, 4/4 means there are four quarter notes in each bar. The time signature is found on the stave at the beginning of a piece of music, after the clef and key signature.

Full article on Time Signatures

 
Timing The ability to synchronise rhythm with other instruments
 
Toggle switch

Another term for pickup selector switch

 
Tone

1. A distance in pitch equal to two semitones (2 frets).

Full article on Intervals

   
 

2. The level of equalisation set by a tone control on a guitar or amplifier

Full article on Amplfiers

  3. Musical sound with reference to its quality, pitch and/or resonance
 
Tone control A knob on the body of a guitar that sets the level of equalisation for a pickup or combination of pickups. Usually each pickup will have its own tone control.
 
Top Another term for soundboard
 
Top plate Another term for soundboard
 
Touched harmonic

A technique where you touch the string lightly over a specified fret bar after a note has been sounded. Sometimes called an artificial harmonic.

Full article on Touched Harmonics

 
Travis picking A style where quarter notes are plucked with a plectrum and fingers pluck the other strings. Used in country music.
 
Treble clef A symbol that wraps around the second lowest line of a musical stave. The symbol is also known as the G clef as it dictates the note that the line represents.
 
Tremolo A wavering effect of a note, hence tremolo bar. Can also be achieved with guitar effects.
 
Tremolo bar

Another term for vibrato bar

 
Tremolo picking

A technique where a note is picked as rapidly as possible for a set duration of time. A tremolo picked note is notated as normal but with three diagonal lines below the number on the tab.

Full article on Tremolo Picking

 
Tremolo system

Another term for vibrato system

 
Triad

A chord consisting of three notes. When used in conjunction with a scale it refers to the first, third an fifth notes of the scale. For example the C major triad consists of C, E and G.

Full article on Constructing and Naming Chords

 
Trill

A rapid slur between two notes

Full article on Trills
Exercises - Trills

 
Truss rod Thin steel rod that runs down the centre of the guitar neck. The truss rod serves to oppose the stress put on the neck from the string tension.
 
Truss rod cover Thin plate that covers the entrance to the truss rod. Usually located just above the nut.
 
Tube Short for electron vacuum tube
 
Tube amp Another term for valve amp
 
Tune

To correctly adjust the pitch of an open string

Full article on Tuning your guitar

 
Tuners

Another term for machinehead

 
Tuner pegs

Another term for string-post

 
Two-hand tapping

Using both hands to hammer-on/tap the frets

See also Left hand tapping and Right hand tapping

   

Top↑